Big Beautiful Women Pageant

If you like women, and you like ‘em big, there is only one place for you to go this week: to Philadelphia’s yearly celebration of full-figured hotties. Organizer Dave Wilkes runs this sincere salute to plus-size beauty, which aims to land a few heartfelt blows against body-image prejudice while still having pageant fun with gowns and tiaras. This year’s event marks 13 years of promoting plus-size beauty, talent and intelligence. The event even has its own theme song “Beauty Comes in Plus,” by R&B vocalist Destinee Maree, whose lyrics capture the essence of the pageant: “Don’t fade in the background, I shine up in front. I’m a full bottle, and not just a sippy cup… I am not no skinny mini, just plus size and above. What some call two-car fat, others call more to love.” -Tom Cowell